COMMITTEE  OF  CITIZENS 


ON  THE  PROPOSED 


SCHUYLKILL  DROYE-YARD  AND  ABATTOIR. 


BY 

JOHN  H.  RAUCH,  M.D., 

TREASURER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  PUBLIC  HEALTH  ASSOCIATION,  LATE  SANITARY 
SUPERINTENDENT  OF  CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS. 


WITH  MEDICAL  OPINIONS  ON  THE  SUBJECT. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

COLLINS,  PRINTER,  705  JAYNE  STREET. 

1874. 


Philadelphia , Nov.  21,  1874. 


JOHN  H.  RAUCH,  M.D., 

Late  Sanitary  Superintendent  of  Chicago,  III. 

Dear  Sir  : — 

In  behalf  of  the  Committee  of  Citizens  on  the  Schuylkill  Drove- Yard  and 
Abattoir,  I would  respectfully  ask  you  to  favor  us  with  your  opinion  as  to  the 
advantages  and  disadvantages  of  the  proposed  location,  and  the  probable  in- 
fluence of  such  an  establishment  upon  the  sanitary  condition  of  this  city  ; and 
if  you  should  consider  the  proposed  site  to  be  objectionable,  we  wrould  be  glad 
to  know  where  you  think  it  ought  to  be  located. 

You  will  please  bear  in  mind  that  the  fat  and  refuse  are  not  to  be  utilized  on 
the  premises,  but  are  to  be  removed  to  a rendering  establishment  to  be  erected 
further  down  the  river  With  regard  to  this  latter,  we  would  be  glad  to  have 
your  opinion  as  to  the  distance  at  which  it  ought  to  be  placed  from  the  built-up 
portions  of  the  city. 

We  would  also  like  to  have  from  you  an  approximate  estimate  of  the  proba- 
ble average  number  of  animals  that  will  be  stabled  in  the  drove-yard,  and  be 
daily  slaughtered  in  the  abattoir.  The  Railroad  Company  informs  us  that  the 
eventual  capacity  of  the  yard  is  to  accommodate  7500  cattle,  8000  hogs,  and 
12,000  sheep. 

Y our  reputation  as  a sanitarian,  and  your  special  experience  for  many  years 
in  these  particular  subjects,  must  serve  as  our  excuse  for  thus  requesting  an 
expression  of  your  views.  Very  respectfully, 

JOHN  SELLERS,  Jr.,  Chairman . 


Philadelphia,  Dec.  8,  1874. 


To  JOHN  SELLERS,  Jr.,  Esq., 

Chairman  of  Committee  of  Citizens  on  the  'proposed  Schuylkill 
, Drove  Yard  and  Abattoir. 

Sir:  Before  replying  to  your  communication  I would  state, 
by  way  of  explanation,  that  my  replies  to  the  queries  propounded 
before  the  American  Public  Health  Association,  at  its  recent 
meeting  in  this  city,  were  of  a general  character,  and  did  not  apply 
specially  to  the  Abattoir  and  Stock  Yards,  as  proposed  to  be  con- 
ducted at  West  Philadelphia.  Since  then  I have  carefully  ex- 
amined that  site  and  considered  all  the  conditions  bearing  upon 
it,  and  in  this  letter  I propose  to  discuss  the  questions  connected 
with  that  enterprise. 

In  response  to  your  inquiry  as  to  the  advantages  of  the  pro- 
posed location,  I would  say  that,  in  my  opinion,  they  are  purely 
commercial,  and  in  this  respect  it  is,  in  some  points,  superior 
to  any  other  within  or  near  the  limits  of  Philadelphia  .;  but  from 
a strictly  sanitary  standpoint  it  is  one  of  the  most  undesirable 
that  could  be  selected. 

In  your  letter  you  state  that  thePennsylvania  Railroad  Company 
designs  the  Stock  Yards  eventually  to  have  a capacity  for  storing 
7500  head  of  cattle,  8000  hogs,  and  12,000  sheep.  It  is,  therefore, 
safe  to  assume  that  8000  head  of  cattle,  3000  hogs,  and  6000 
sheep,  will  generally  be  collected  here  at  one  time.  From 
these,  in  spite  of  all  possible  care,  exhalations  will  arise 
that  cannot  be  prevented.  It  is  true  that  on  many  days  the 
presence  of  this  number  of  animals  will  not  be  noticed  a short 
distance  beyond  the  inclosure,  but  there  will  be  days  when,  owing 
to  the  location,  high  temperature,  and  certain  atmospheric  condi- 
tions, the  air  will  be  tainted  for  at  least  a mile  in  the  direction  of 
the  wind.  I have  repeatedly  noticed  the  “cattle  .odor”  half 
a mile  from  a distillery  where  only  1000  head  were  stabled, 
and  in  a locality  where  the  atmospheric  conditions  were  more 
favorable  than  they  possibly  could  be  at  the  proposed  yards  here. 

The  slaughtering  of  animals,  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 


" ^ \Ao\ 


4 


stances,  cannot  be  conducted  without  more  or  less  smell.  From 
its  very  nature,  it  is  a filthy  operation,  and  it  is  not  presuming 
too  much  to  say  that  even  if  conducted  with  the  care  proposed, 
there  will  be  times  when  the  atmosphere  will  be  polluted  from  the 
abattoir.  The  ki'ling  of  800  head  of  cattle,  1500  hogs,  and  2000 
sheep  daily  in  this  locality,  which  will  be  about  the  amount  re- 
quired for  consumption  in  this  city  in  1875,  and,  if  not  then, 
certainly  in  1876,  cannot  always  be  carried  on  without  offence 
to  the  surrounding  district. 

From  this  amount  of  slaughtering  there  will  have  to  be  re- 
moved daily  from  the  cattle  about  20  tons  of  offal,  from  the  hogs 
15  tons,  and  from  the  sheep  7 tons,  with  about  2500  gallons  of 
cattle  blood,  1300  of  hog  blood,  and  700  of  sheep  blood,  making  in 
all  about  55  tons  of  refuse  for  rendering  and  utilization.  Owing  to 
the  character  of  this  material,  decomposition  soon  takes  place,  and, 
therefore,  at  times  it  cannot  be  removed  without  being  offensive. 
This  is  especially  the  case  when,  from  accident  or  some  other 
unavoidable  cause,  its  removal  is  not  promptly  effected.  The 
fat  for  rendering  can,  as  a general  rule,  be  taken  away  without 
any  trouble,  but  the  removal  of  the  heads,  hoofs,  and  manure 
cannot  always  take  place  from  this  locality  without  smell.  It  is 
true,  that  by  the  free  use  of  disinfectants  this  objection  can  be 
partially  obviated,  but  their  application  is  not  always  practicable. 

From  the  meteorological  observations  of  Prof.  Fitzgerald,  as 
recorded  in  the  Franklin  Institute,  I find  that  for  the  years  1872 
and  1873,  during  the  months  of  June,  July,  August,  and  Sep- 
tember, when  the  exhalations  from  the  proposed  abattoir  and 
stock  yards  will  be  most  rife,  owing  to  high  temperature,  the 
wind  was  for  two-thirds  of  this  period  from  a westerly  direction; 
most  frequently  from  the  S.W.,  next  from  the  N.W.  Then  occur 
the  N.E.,  S.E.,  W.,  S.,  N.,  and  E.,  winds  in  the  order'  named.  The 
mean  daily  temperature  for  the  same  years  was  for  June,  75°, 
July,  81°,  August,  78°,  and  September,  69°. 

With  this  high  temperature  during  the  prevalence  of  the  S.W. 
wind,  it  is  safe  to  assume  that  the  odors  of  this  establishment  at 
times,  without  any  rendering  or  the  utilization  of  refuse  being 
done,  will  be  observable  as  far  as  Coates  and  Broad  Streets. 
When  from  the  West,  as  far  as  Broad,  and  from  the  N.W.,  as  far 
as  Pine  and  18th  Streets.  Occasionally  it  will  be  noticed  beyond 
these  limits.  The  influence  of  these  exhalations  upon  life  will 
be  felt  in  about  two-thirds  of  the  district  indicated,  according  to 


5 


density  of  population,  compactness  of  buildings,  and  other  local 
conditions,  and  especially  at  the  Children’s  Hospital.  While 
it  is  true  .that  it  would  be  difficult  to  point  out  a single  case 
where  these  emanations  have  directly  caused  death,  I have  re- 
peatedly observed  their  effect  at  Chicago,  in  increasing  the  death- 
rate  of  a particular  locality  when  the  wind  was  blowing  in  a 
southeasterly  or  southwesterly  direction,  from  one  of  these  estab- 
lishments for  several  consecutive  days,  with  a high  temperature, 
while  the  death-rate  was  not  increased  in  localities  remote,  with 
the  wind  in  the  same  direction,  and  the  other  conditions  that  affect 
life  being  the  same.  It  may  be  said  that  other  influences  destruc- 
tive to  life  were  at  work  at  this  time,  but  even  taking  these  into 
consideration,  I could  not  avoid  the  conclusion  that  the  emana- 
tions from  these  establishments  were  an  important  factor  in  in- 
creasing the  death-rate,  especially  of  the  infantile  diseases  incident 
to  summer,  as  well  as  in  cases  debilitated  by  other  diseases.  In 
other  words,  they  increase  the  destructive  influence  of  certain 
atmospheric  contaminations  existent  under  high  temperatures 
especially  where  population  is  dense.  On  the  west  side  of  the 
Schuylkill  the  exhalations  will  be  observed  when  the  wind  is 
from  the  N.  E.,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Almshouse  ; when  it  is 
from  the  E.,  about  40th  Street;  and  when  from  the  S.E.,  about 
Aspen  Street.  The  effect  upon  life  will  be  less  marked  than  on 
the  east  side,  since  the  population  is  less  dense,  while  the  easterly 
winds  are  less  frequent  and  such  winds  generally  are  of  a lower 
temperature.  It  will,  however,  increase  the  death-rate  in  the 
University  and  Blockley  Hospitals,  particularly  in  the  latter,  as 
in  institutions  of  this  character  the  patients  are  necessarily  more 
susceptible  to  such  influences. 

There  will  also  be  occasions  when,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the 
establishment  is  to  be  located  upon  lower  ground  than  the  resi- 
dences in  the  neighborhood,  the  odors  from  it  will  be  noticed 
only  at  higher  and  more  remote  points.  The  topography  of  the 
locality  prevents  that  free  and  constant  access  of  air  which  is, 
from  a sanitary  standpoint,  one  of  the  most  important  preven- 
tives of  foul  odors.  Thus  there  will  result  accumulations  of  this 
character,  and  then  owing  to  certain  atmospheric  conditions  they 
will  ascend  until  they  strike  a current  of  air  to  be  wafted  to  and 
be  observed  at  a distance.  In  Hew  York,  the  residents  on  Murray 
Hill  are  frequently  annoyed  by  noxious  odors  when  nothing  is 
observed  near  the  source  from  whence  they  emanate.  These 


6 


conditions  obtain  most  frequently  at  night,  and  it  is  in  this  way 
that  during  the  summer  months,  sleeping  rooms  are  contaminated, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  windows  are  open.  If  the  establish- 
ment were  to  be  located  on  a hill  or  a plain,  so  that  there  would 
be  free  access  for  the  winds  from  all  directions,  or,  in  other  words, 
its  ventilation  better,  this  objection  would  in  a very  great  mea- 
sure be  obviated. 

The  most  important  objection,  from  a sanitary  standpoint,  to 
the  proposed  abattoir  and  stock-yards  will  be  the  necessary 
drainage  of  refuse  matter  into  the  Schuylkill  River.  In  fact, 
without  good  drainage  and  a large  supply  of  water  it  is  impos- 
sible to  conduct  establishments  of  this  magnitude  without  their 
becoming  great  nuisances,  and  just  in  proportion  as  they  are  kept 
in  a cleanly  condition  will  the  river  be  polluted.  I find  upon 
examination  of  the  records  in  the  office  of  the  City  Engineer  that 
the  current  of  the  river  is  on  the  east  side,  and  that,  generally 
speaking,  there  is  but  little  on  the  west  side,  save  such  as  is 
incident  to  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide,  which,  owing  to  the  wind- 
ing character  of  the  river,  and  perhaps  Eairmount  Dam,  is  by  no 
means  as  rapid  as  in  the  Delaware.  If  the  cattle  are  slaughtered 
in  the  mode  at  present  adopted  in  the  best  establishments,  there 
will  be  at  least  five  pounds  of  blood,  meat,  and  other  refuse  from 
each  animal  carried  into  the  river.  This  is  a low  estimate,  and  no 
doubt  frequently  too  low.  From  the  hogs  nearly  two  pounds  each, 
and  from  the  sheep  about  two  ounces.  There  will  also  be  daily 
carried  into  the  river  from  the  cattle  stabled  at  least  one  pound 
per  head  of  excreta,  about  the  same  quantity  per  hog,  and  about 
two  ounces  per  sheep.  This  last  calculation  is  based  upon  the 
supposition  that  the  yards  will  be  impervious  to  fluids,  and  that 
the  drainage  will  be  as  complete  as  possible.  Although  the 
greater  portion  of  the  blood  will  be  collected  for  utilization, 
there  is  necessarily  some  waste.  This  will  be  washed  into  the 
river  where  it  will  coagulate  and  sink,  and  unless  the  current  is 
very  rapid  it  will  remain  at  the  bottom  of  the  river  until  the 
temperature  of  the  water  is  such  as  to  cause  the  putrefactive  pro- 
cess to  take  place.  I have  frequently  found  coagulated  blood  at 
the  bottom  of  the  Chicago  River  months  after  it  had  been  de- 
posited, and  when  its  presence  had  become  manifest  by  the  escape 
of  noxious  gases,  the  result  of  its  decomposition. 

From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  observed  that  about  15,000 
pounds  of  organic  and  decomposable  material  will  daily  enter 


7 


the  river  from  this  source.  Although  this  estimate  may  seem 
large,  I do  not  think  that  the  establishment  can  be  kept  clean 
without  this  amount  of  waste  material  being  carried  into  the 
river  by  frequent  flushing,  for  it  is  so  much  easier  to  remove  refuse 
in  this  way — particularly  when  the  drainage  is  good,  and  water 
in  abundance  for  this  purpose — than  by  the  slow  process  of  col- 
lecting by  hand,  and  removing  to  another  locality.  Indeed, 
much  of  it  cannot  be  removed  by  hand ; with  the  best  inten- 
tions and  most  constant  supervision  it  will  be  found  impractica- 
ble, from  the  amount  of  time  and  labor  required.  Of  course, 
this  estimate  does  not  include  the  manure,  that  can  be  readily 
disposed  of. 

As  already  remarked,  the  current  of  the  Schuylkill  is  not  rapid 
on  this  side,  and  it  will  soon  be  found,  from  the  character  of  the 
refuse — as  a large  portion  of  it  is  animal  matter — that  at  low  tide 
much  of  it  will  be  left  in  the  docks  and  on  the  marshy  grounds 
(overflowed  at  high  tide),  and  shallow  places  on  this  side  of  the 
river  for  some  distance  below  the  abattoir.  At  low  tide  the  action 
of  the  sun  in  midsummer  would  cause  it  to  be  the  source  of  noxious 
exhalations,  which  would  be  carried  by  the  winds  over  a much 
larger  portion  of  the  city  than  the  emanations  from  the  abattoir 
and  stock-yards,  and  thus  exercise  a more  widely  spread  influence 
upon  health  and  comfort.  I learn  that  the  Railroad  Company 
propose  to  build  a sewer  into  the  middle  of  the  river,  emptying 
into  deep  water,  and  where  there  is  a more  rapid  current,  so  as 
to  carry  off  this  drainage.  This  will  no  doubt  be  better  than  if 
the  mouth  of  the  sewer  should  be  at  the  west  side  of  the  river; 
but  when  there  is  little  water  flowing  over  the  dam,  it  will  not 
make  much  difference,  as  the  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tide,  with  the 
wind,  will  carry  this  material  to  every  portion  of  the  river. 

From  Mr.  Smedley,  the  Chief  Engineer  of  the  city,  I learn  that 
only  a small  portion  of  the  region  lying  west  of  the  Schuylkill 
is  sewered,  and  that,  comparatively  speaking,  but  little  sewage 
from  it  empties  into  the  river  at  this  time,  but  that  with  the 
increase  of  population  the  sewers  will  have  to  be  extended ; also 
that  the  drainage  of  the  lower  part  of  the  city  lying  east  of  the 
Schuylkill  is  limited.  In  this  direction  sewers  are  being  rapidly 
built,  the  tendency  of  population  being  to  the  territory  drained 
by  the  Schuylkill,  so  that  with  the  natural  increase  and  the 
addition  from  the  proposed  slaughtering  and  stock-yards  (which 
will  in  itself  be  equal,  at  the  lowest  estimate,,  to  the  sewage  of  a. 


8 


population  of  20,000),  it  will  soon  be  found  that  the  river  will 
become  so  much  contaminated  as  to  prove  offensive  and  exercise 
an  injurious  influence  upon  the  health  of  the  city.  The  effect  of 
this  river  pollution  will  be  more  marked  when  there  is  little  or 
no  water  flowing  over  the  dam  at  Fairmount,  as  frequently  oc- 
curs, particularly  in  the  summer  months,  since  but  little  fresh 
water  being  added,  the  same  water  remains  flowing  upward  and 
downward,  while  the  daily  addition  of  contaminating  material 
remains  the  same.  It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  refuse 
matter  from  stock-yards  and  abattoirs,  in  undergoing  the  process 
of  decomposition,  gives  off  much  more  effluvia  than  ordinary 
sewage,  so  that  combining  the  river  pollution  with  the  atmos- 
pheric contamination,  I think  it  safe  to  say  that  the  proposed 
establishment  will  be  fully  equivalent  in  its  effects  upon  the 
atmosphere  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  river  to  the  sewage  de- 
rived from  a population  of  at  least  50,000  souls.  The  purification, 
by  oxidation,  of  the  ordinary  sewage  with  the  proposed  additional 
refuse  materials  from  the  yard  and  abattoir  flowing  into  the 
Schuylkill  river  with  its  present  water  supply,  cannot  be  accom- 
plished before  it  joins  the  Delaware.  The  purification  of  the 
Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  at  Chicago,  with  like  contaminating 
material,  and  with  a constant  supply  of  fresh  water  from  Lake 
Michigan,  requires  a distance  of  from  twenty  to  thirty  miles,  at 
least  double  the  distance  being  required  for  refuse  animal  matter 
that  is  needed  for  ordinary  city  sewage. 

This  river  pollution  will  increase  as  population  increases,  until 
it  will  be  necessary  to  construct  an  intercepting  sewer,  on  one  or 
both  sides  of  the  river,  with  pumping  works  near  its  mouth,  to 
pump  the  sewage  into  the  Delaware,  at  great  expense.*  This 
will  become  in  the  course  of  time  a sanitary  necessity. 

Since  the  reception  of  your  letter,  and  as  attention  has  been 
called  thereto,  I have  inspected  the  abattoir  and  stock-yards  at 
Harsimus  Cove,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that,  taking  every  - 

* In  the  latter  part  of  last  July,  while  coming  into  the  city  on  the  West 
Chester  Railroad,  my  attention  was  attracted  by  a foul  and  oppressive  odor, 
and,  from  habit,  I looked  out  of  the  car  window  to  see  from  whence  it  had  its 
origin.  I found  that  we  were  approaching  the  Schuylkill  River,  and  that  the 
tide  was  low,  and  that  the  effluvia  came  from  the  low  and  marshy  ground. 
Afterward,  in  crossing  Chestnut  Street  bridge,  I observed  a similar  odor  coming 
from  the  docks,  and,  as  I approached  the  east  side,  noticed  the  most  offensive 
gas  smell ; altogether  reminding  me  of  the  atmospheric  impurities  that  several 
years  ago  were  so  common  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Chicago  River. 


9 


thing  into  consideration,  they  constitute  the  most  complete  and 
best  adapted  establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  country,  and,  per- 
haps, in  the  world.  In  some  respects,  in  mechanical  construction, 
and  certainly  in  location,  they  are  superior  to  the  Brighton 
abattoir  and  stock-yards  near  Boston,  to  the  sanitary  arrangements 
of  which  so  much  attention  has  been  paid  by  the  Massachusetts 
State  Board  of  Health.  At  Brighton,  however,  hogs  are 
slaughtered,  and  the  rendering  of  fat  and  utilization  of  the 
refuse  are  carried  on,  which  is  not  the  case  at  Harsimus  Cove. 
At  the  latter  place  albumen  is  manufactured  from  the  blood,  the 
remaining  products  being  converted  into  a fertilizer  without  the 
process  being  specially  disagreeable,  while  on  the  Schuylkill  this 
operation  cannot  at  all  times  be  conducted  without  being  offen- 
sive to  a neighboring  population.  There  is  also  a marked  differ- 
ence in  climate,  one  being  oceanic  and  the  other  continental. 
There  is  also  at  Harsimus  a constant  and  free  circulation  of 
air,  as  there  is  no  obstruction  from  any  direction,  and  it  is 
built  at  least  four  feet  above  the  water,  so  that  the  air  has  even 
an  opportunity  to  pass  under  it;  while  on  the  Schuylkill  the  site 
is,  as  it  were,  in  a basin,  and  lower  than  the  surrounding  territory. 
In  the  summer  when  mostannoyance  is  experienced  from  establish- 
ments of  this  character,  a stiff  sea  breeze  is  frequent  at  Harsimus 
Cove,  blowing  up  the  North  River,  so  that  it  really  does  not 
affect  any  one,  while  at  West  Philadelphia  the  prevailing  winds 
will  carry  the  emanations  to  the  most  densely  populated  and 
best  built-up  portions  of  the  city.  Harsimus  Cove  is  so  situated 
that  in  three  directions  it  cannot  possibly  affect  population.  In 
the  remaining  quarter  there  is  comparatively  no  population  within 
half  a mile,  and  only  about  fifteen  thousand  within  a mile,  and  with 
the  wind  rarely  blowing  towards  that  point,  while  on  the  Schuyl- 
kill there  is  at  least  a resident  population  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  thousand,  including  several  large  hospitals  and  other 
public  institutions  within  reach  of  its  influence.  At  Harsimus 
the  water  supply  is  unlimited,  with  a rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  of 
eight  feet,  flowing  swiftly  with  the  full  volume  of  the  North 
River;  while  on  the  Schuylkill  the  rise  and  fall  of  the  tide  is 
only  six  feet,  and  not  rapid,  with  at  times  a small  water  supply 
in  the  river,  or,  in  other  words,  the  drainage  from  Harsimus 
is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  daily  removed,  while  at  the 
Schuylkill  it  cannot  be.  The  mean  daily  temperature  during  the 
months  of  June,  July,  August,  and  September  is  at  least  5° 


10 


lower  at  Harsirnus  Cove  than  at  West  Philadelphia,  a very  im- 
portant difference,  as  high  temperature  is  the  chief  factor  in  causing 
offensive  smells.  The  day  of  my  visit  at  Harsirnus  was  one  of  the 
coldest  of  this  season,  and  yet  as  I stepped  into  a small  boat 
upon  leaving  the  abattoir,  at  a point  some  distance  from  where 
the  slaughtering  was  carried  on,  I noticed  an  odor  as  if  it  came 
from  an  old  sewer  or  from  blood  and  refuse  that  had  been  de- 
posited in  the  river.  I have  no  doubt  that  this  will  increase 
year  by  year. 

It  will,  therefore,  be  seen  that  the  conditions  that  obtain  in. 
the  two  localities  are  wholly  unlike,  and  that  to  draw  a com- 
parison, or  to  say  that  what  can  be  accomplished  at  one  place  in 
the  conducting  of  this  business  can  be  done  at  the  other,  is 
simply  impossible.  I do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  at  Harsirnus 
Cove  slaughtering  is  carried  on  with  but  little  offence,  and  no 
injury  to  the  public  health;  but  lam  equally  positive  in  saying 
that  it  is  not  possible  to  do  so  at  the  proposed  point  on  the 
Schuylkill. 

In  reply  to  the  query,  “ At  what  distance  should  the  rendering 
and  utilization  of  the  refuse  be  carried  on  from  the  built-up  por- 
tions of  the  city?”  I would  state  that  this  depends  entirely  upon 
the  atmospheric  conditions,  the  direction  of  the  prevailing  winds, 
the  mode  and  character  of  the  appliances  for  conducting  these 
processes,  the  drainage  and  water  supply.  The  rendering  of 
clean,  fresh  fat  or  tallow  is  not  necessarily  an  offensive  operation, 
except  in  a warm,  murky  atmosphere,  but  the  rendering  of  offal, 
and  its  utilization,  under  all  circumstances,  require  constant 
care  and  attention,  and  even  then,  with  all  the  improved  ma- 
chinery, cannot  always  be  carried  on  without  offence.  In  ren- 
dering, much  water  is  used,  and  this,  after  the  process  is  completed, 
is  drawn  off,  necessarily  impregnated  with  a large  amount  of 
organic  material.  The  tank  water  or  soup,  as  it  may  more 
properly  be  called,  from  rendering  fresh  fat  and  tallow,  is  not 
specially  offensive,  but  that  from  rendering  offal  must  neces- 
sarily be  so  from  the  fact  that  in  this  process  the  fatty  matter 
is  removed  from  the  intestines,  and  the  various  glands  and 
organs  that  are  not  otherwise  used.  It  is  estimated  that  from 
the  offal  of  a bullock  there  are  about  12  gallons  of  this  liquid, 
which,  if  800  are  slaughtered  daily,  will  amount  to  9600  gallons, 

3 gallons  to  each  hog  that  is  slaughtered,  making  a total  daily  of 
4500  gallons,  and  one  gallon  per  head  of  sheep,  making  2000 


11 


gallons  more,  or  a total  daily  of  16,500  gallons  of  this  tank  fluid 
that  must  be  daily  removed.  It  is  from  this  source  mainly  that 
the  South  Branch  of  the  Chicago  River  south  of  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal  is  polluted.  It  is  really  a highly  concentrated 
essence  of  the  material  that  is  rendered,  containing  variable  quan- 
tities of  ammonia,  phosphorus,  and  nitrogen  products  that  are 
valuable  as  fertilizers.  Glue  has  also  been  manufactured  from 
this  result  of  the  rendering  process.  So  far,  however,  but  little 
progress  has  been  made  in  the  utilization  of  the  tank  fluid,  and  at 
this  time  it  is  necessarily  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  the  pollution 
of  streams  into  which  these  establishments  drain.  The  necessity 
of  a large  water  supply  for  the  removal  of  this  waste  will  be  appa- 
rent. These  processes  should,  therefore,  be  conducted  on  the 
Delaware  below  the  mouth  of  the  Schuylkill  where  water  is 
abundant,  and  the  remoteness  from  population  would  render  it 
inoffensive. 

This  is  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  slaughtering,  in  this 
country,  that  it  is  proposed  to  locate  a drove  yard  and  abattoir 
in  what  may  be  termed  the  heart  of  a city,  or  what  certainly  will 
soon  be  the  centre  of  population.  As  a general  rule,  this  business 
has  been  driven  away  from  population,  in  consequence  of  the  in- 
separable conditions  that  follow  it,  and  while  it  is  true  that  many 
improvements  have  been  made  in  the  mode  of  conducting  these 
operations,  especially  within  the  last  five  years,  both  from  a com- 
mercial and  sanitary  standpoint,  still  taking  all  these  into  con 
sideration,  judging  from  my  experience,  and  the  general  principles 
of  sanitary  science,  I am  of  the  opinion  that  they  should  not  be 
tolerated  where  population  is  dense,  or  likely  to  become  so.  In 
spite  of  everything  that  can  be  done,  offence  will  sometimes 
arise.  I have  more  than  once  been  led  to  hope  from  many 
experiments,  as  well  as  from  the  great  improvements  in  the  ma- 
chinery and  appliances  made  to  render  the  system  a success,  that 
the  time  might  come  when  such  establishments  in  the  midst  of 
population  might  be  safe  and  proper,  but  in  this  I have  so  far 
been  disappointed. 

There  is  probably  no  practical  sanitary  question  that  at  this 
time,  especially  in  our  large  cities,  is  attracting  so  much  attention 
as  this,  and  even  with  all  the  improvements  that  have  been  made 
at  Chicago,  it  is  by  no  means  yet  conducted  so  as  not  to  be  of- 
fensive or  prejudicial  to  health.  In  Baltimore  this  question  is 
under  discussion,  and  in  New  York,  steps  are  now  being  taken 


12 


toward  improvement.  In  Great  Britain  the  hygienic  considera- 
tions involved  are  now  regarded  as  of  so  much  importance  that  a 
recent  act  of  Parliament  has  been  passed  defining  how  the  work  is 
to  be  carried  on.  not  only  in  the  great  cities,  but  throughout  the 
entire  kingdom. 

The  best  site  for  an  abattoir  for  this  city  is  on  the  Delaware, 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Schuylkill,  from  sanitary  considerations, 
and  possibly,  also,  from  a commercial  point  of  view,  as  here 
slaughtering  and  packing  for  exportation  might  be  carried  on — 
a branch  of  business,  I believe,  not  conducted  in  this  city,  and 
quite  an  important  item  in  the  export  trade  of  Boston. 

At  the  proposed  location  on  the  Schuylkill  the  sanitary  diffi- 
culties will  yearly  become  greater,  owing  to  increasing  density 
of  population,  diminished  water  supply,  accumulation  of  refuse, 
and  inevitable  contamination  of  buildings  and  grounds.  The 
expense,  also,  incident  to  conducting  two  establishments  for 
slaughtering  and  rendering  so  far  remote  from  each  other  as  will 
have  to  be  done,  will  go  far  toward  equalizing  any  supposed 
commercial  advantages  of  the  proposed  site  on  the  Schuylkill. 
On  the  Delaware  all  the  different  processes  can  be  carried  on,  if 
not  under  the  same  roof,  at  least  in  close  proximity. 

In  speaking  as  I have,  I do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  un- 
dervaluing an  abattoir  system  in  this  city,  but,  on  the  contrary,  I 
heartily  commend  it,  and  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  if  the  loca- 
tion is  a proper  one,  it  is  far  preferable  to  the  present  mode  of 
slaughtering.  As  a general  rule,  slaughtering  should  not  be 
carried  on  as  a purely  commercial  enterprise,  but  under  the 
supervision  and  control  of  the  municipality.  This  applies  with 
special  force  to  cities,  where  slaughtering  is  done  for  home  con- 
sumption. 

Yery  respectfully, 

JOHN  H.  BAUCH,  M.D. 


13 


RESOLUTION  OF  THE  COLLEGE  OF  PHYSICIANS, 

Adopted  December  2,  1814. 

( Representing  about  250  'physicians.) 

“ Resolved , That  in  the  opinion  of  the  College  of  Physicians  of  Philadelphia 
the  establishment  of  the  proposed  Schuylkill  Drove  Yard  and  Abattoir,  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Schuylkill  River,  between  Market  Street  and  Fairmount, 
would  be  in  a high  degree  pernicious  to  the  health  interests  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Philadelphia.” 

JOHN  H.  PACKARD,  M.D.,  Secretary. 


ACTION  OF  THE  PHILADELPHIA  COUNTY  MEDICAL 

SOCIETY. 

( Representing  about  200  physicians.) 

At  a meeting  of  the  Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society,  held  December  9, 
1874,  the  remarks  of  Dr.  Rauch  of  Chicago  were  read  and  unanimously  endorsed 
by  this  Society.  The  following  resolution  which  had  been  presented  two  weeks 
previous  was  then  unanimously  adopted. 

“ To  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad — 

“We,  the  members  of  the  Philadelphia  County  Medical  Society,  feeling  a 
deep  interest  in  the  sanitary  condition  of  our  city,  and  in  all  preventive  mea- 
sures calculated  to  arrest  threatened  danger  to  the  same,  respectfully  and  ear- 
nestly protest  against  the  contemplated  erection  of  a Stock  Yard  and  Abattoir 
on  the  Schuylkill  above  Market  Street,  believing  that  such  works  would  be 
highly  prejudicial  to  the  health  of  our  city.” 

WASHINGTON  L.  ATLEE,  President 

H.  LEAMAN,  Secretary. 


ACTION  OF  THE  NORTHERN  MEDICAL  ASSOCIATION 
OF  PHILADELPHIA. 

[Representing  about  80  physicians.) 

Clayton  MacMichael,  Esq., 

The  communication  containing  the  letter  of  Dr.  Rauch  was  received  and 
read  before  the  Northern  Medical  Association  at  their  last  stated  meeting 
(Dec.  10,  1874).  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  state  that  the  Association  cordially 
endorse  the  sentiments  contained  in  said  letter,  and  hope  the  same  may  be  pre- 
sented to  the  public  at  an  early  date. 

Yery  respectfully, 

E.  J.  SANTEE,  M.D., 
President  Northern  Medical  Association. 


14 


OPINION  OF  THE  PROFESSION. 

The  undersigned  desire  to  express  their  full  approval  of  the  con- 
clusions reached  by  Dr.  J.  H.  Rauch,  and  to  commend  them  to  the 
serious  consideration  of  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia. 

ISAAC  HAYS,  M.D.,  No.  1525  Locust  Street. 

HENRY  HARTSHORNE^  M.D.,  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

S.  WEIR  MITCHELL,  M.D.,  No.  1332  Walnut  Street. 

THUS.  HEWSON  BACHE,  M.D.,  No.  233  S.  Thirteenth  Street. 
YM.  GOODELL,  M.D  , Preston  Retreat. 

L.  A.  DUHRING,  M.D.,  No.  1416  Spruce  Street. 

W.  B.  ATKINSON,  M.D.,  No.  1400  Pine  Street. 

JOHN  G.  STETLER,  M.D.,  No.  1321  Girard  Avenue. 

I.  S.  ESHLEMAN,  M.D.,  No.  935  North  Broad  Street. 

C.  R.  PRALL,  M.D.,  No.  1509  N.  Thirteenth  Street. 

A.  M.  SLOCUM,  M.D.,  No.  1413  Jefferson  Street. 

GEO.  E.  STUBBS,  M.D.,  No.  1612  N.  Seventeenth  Street. 
LAURENCE  TURNBULL,  M.D.,  No.  1208  Spruce  Street. 
CASPAR  W1STER,  M.D.,  No.  1303  Arch  Street. 

GEO.  W.  NORRIS,  M.D.,  No.  1534  Locust  Street. 

ROBERT  BRIDGES,  M.D.,  No.  119  S.  Twentieth  Street. 

JOHN  ASHHCRST,  Jr.,  M.D.,  No.  2002  W.  Delaney  Place. 
EDWARD  HARTSHORNE,  M.D.,  No.  1439  Walnut  Street. 

JOHN  H.  PACKARD,  M.D.,No.  1926  Spruce  Street. 

W.  S.  W.  RUSCHENBERGER,  M.D.,  No.  1932  Chestnut  Street. 
R.  II.  LEE,  M.D.,  No.  929  N.  Broad  Street. 

E.  STANLEY  PERKINS,  M.D.,  No.  1901  N.  Twelfth  Street. 
THOS.  J.  YARROW,  M.D.,  No.  1315  Girard  Avenue. 

LEONARDO  S.  CLARK,  M.D.,  No.  1505  Girard  Avenue. 

W.  T.  TAYLOR,  M.D.,  No.  1306  Girard  Avenue. 

J.  D.  NASH,  M.D.,  No.  1316  N.  Eleveutli  Street. 

JOHN  H.  BRINTON,  M.D.,  No.  1423  Spruce  .Street. 

WALTER  F.  ATLEE,  M.D.,  No.  210  S.  Thirteenth  Street. 
THOMAS  B.  REED,  M.D.,  No.  1427  Walnut  Street. 

GEORGE  R.  MOREHOUSE,  M.D.,  No.  227  S.  Ninth  Street. 

WM.  F.  NORRIS,  M.D.,  No.  1526  Locust  Street. 

WM.  G.  PORTER,  Jr.,  M.D.,  No.  314  S.  Eleventh  Street. 

J.  E GARRETSON,  M.D.,  No.  1537  Chestnut  Street. 

LOUIS  STARR,  M.D.,  No.  1417  Spruce  Street. 

W.  W.  KEEN,  M.D.,  No.  1729  Chestnut  Street. 

GEO.  C.  HARLAN,  M.D.,  No.  1806  Chestnut  Street. 

ALFRED  STILLE,  M.D.,  No.  3900  Spruce  Street. 


15 


A.  NEBINGER,  M.D.,  No.  1018  S.  Second  Street. 

H.  ST.  CLAIR  ASH,  M.D.,  No.  1112  Vine  Street. 

O.  A.  JUDSON,  M.  D.,  No.  243  S.  Eighteenth  Street. 

N.  L.  HATFIELD,  M.D.,  No.  501  Franklin  Street. 

R.  E.  ROGERS,  M.D.,  No.  1004  Walnut  Street. 
—WASHINGTON  L.  ATLEE,  M.D.,  No.  1408  Arch  Street. 

CHARLES  H.  BURNETT,  M.D.,  No.  127  S.  Eighteenth  Street. 

D.  MURRAY  CHESTON,  M.D.,  No,  25  S.  Sixteenth  Street.  . 

S.  LITTELL,  M.D.,  No.  1623  Spruce  Street. 

J.  L.  LE  CONTE,  M.D.,  No.  1625  Spruce  Street. 

FRANCIS  G.  SMITH,  M.D.,  No.  1504  Walnut  Street. 

E.  J.  SANTEE,  No.  532  N.  Sixth  Street. 

J.  L.  LUDLOW,  M.D.,  No.  1901  Chestnut  Street. 

S.  PANCOAST,  M.D.,  No.  917  Arch  Street. 

J.  SOLIS  COHEN,  M.D.,  No.  1327  Green  Street. 

TH.  F.  BETTON,  M.D.,  Germantown. 

EMIL  FISCHER,  M.D.,  No.  729  N.  Sixth  Street. 

I.  MINIS  HAYS,  M.D.,  No.  1607  Locust  Street. 

ELLWOOD  WILSON,  M.D.,  No.  212  S.  Fifteenth  Street. 

BENJ.  LEE,  M.D.,  No.  1503  Spruce  Street. 

R.  J.  LEVIS,  M.D.,  N.  W.  cor.  Arch  and  Thirteenth  Streets. 
HENRY  H.  SMITH,  M.D.,  No  1800  Spruce  Street. 

FRANCIS  W.  LEWIS,  M.D.,  No.  2016  Spruce  Street. 

WM.  HUNT,  M.D.,  No.  1300  Spruce  Street. 

R.  G.  CURTIN,  M.D.,  No.  332  S.  Seventeenth  Street. 

EDWARD  A.  PAGE,  M.D.,  No.  1415  Walnut  Street. 

ISAAC  RAY,  M.D.,  No.  3509  Baring  Street. 

RICHARD  .J.  DUNGLISON,  M.D.,  No.  814  N.  Sixteenth  Street. 
THOMAS  G.  MORTON,  M.D.,  No.  1421  Chestnut  Street. 

DE  F.  WILLARD,  M.D.,  No.  113  S.  Sixteenth  Street. 

L.  RODMAN,  M.D.,  No.  2008  Spruce  Street. 

R.  A.  F.  PENROSE,  M.D.,  No.  1331  Spruce  Street. 

J.  AITKEN  MEIGS,  M.D.,  No.  423  S.  Broad  Street. 

WM.  MOSS,  M.D.,  Chestnut  Hill. 

ELLERSLIE  WALLACE,  M.D.,  No.  1130  Spruoe  Street. 

C.  NEIDHARD,  M.D.,  No.  1511  Arch  Street. 

W.  II.  H.  G1THENS,  M.D.,  No.  1106  Pine  Street. 

GEO.  S.  GERHARD,  M.D.,  No.  1823  Spruce  Street. 

H.  LENOX  HODGE,  M.D.,  No.  903  Walnut  Street. 

THEODORE  H.  SEYFERT,  M.D.,  No.  1813  Columbia  Avenue. 
EDWARD  A.  SPOONER,  M-.D.,  No.  1438  Spruce  Street. 

M.  S.  WILLIAMSON,  M.D.,  No.  29  N.  Eleventh  Street. 

JOHN  J.  REESE,  M.D.,  No.  266  S.  Twenty-First  Street. 


3 0112  072917856 


16 


I 

S.  D.  GROSS,  M.D.,  Walnut  and  Eleventh  Streets. 

R.  M.  BERTOLET,  M.D.,  No.  113  S.  Broad  Street. 

JOS.  G.  RICHARDSON,  M.D.,  No.  1620  Chestnut  Street. 
ARTHUR  VAN  HARLINGEN,  M.D.,  No.  129  S.  Fifteenth  Street. 
ALONZO  L.  LEACH,  M.D.,  No.  2118  Spruce  Street. 

HAMILTON  OSGOOD,  M.D.,  No.  1805  Chestnut  Street. 
BUSHROD  W.  JAMES,  M.D.,  1800  Green  Street. 

DAN.  G.  BRINTON,  M.D.,  No.  2027  Arch  Street. 

SAML.  W.  GROSS,  M.D.,  Walnut  and  Eleventh  Streets. 
FREDERICK  P.  HENRY,  M.D.,  No.  635  Spruce  Street. 

JAMES  PAUL,  M.D.,  No.  1608  Walnut  Street. 

H.  N.  GUERNSEY,  M.D.,  No.  142?  Chestnut  Street. 

JOS.  C.  GUERNSEY,  M.D.,  No.  1423  Chestnut  Street. 

HERBERT  NORRIS,  M.D.,  No.  313  S.  Eighteenth  Street. 
EDWARD  SHIPPEN,  M.D.,  No.  1205  Walnut  Street. 

CHARLES  CADWALADER,  M.D.,  No.  252  S.  Fourth  Street. 

S.  R.  KNIGHT,  M.D.,  Supt.  Hospital  of  the  P.  E.  Church. 
JAMES  F.  GAYLEY,  No.  133  S.  Eighteenth  Street. 

E.  J.  FRENCH,  M.D.,  No.  1609  Summer  Street. 

T.  L.  LEAVITT,  M.D.,  High  Street,  Germantown. 

WHARTON  SINKLER,  M.D.,  No.  348  South  Sixteenth  Street. 
EDWD.  L.  DUER,  M.D.,  No.  1704  Arch  Street. 

ISAAC  NORRIS,  M.D.,  No.  1424  Walnut  Street. 

JOHN  P.  BETHEL,  M.D.,  No.  107  Brown  Street. 

J.  BERENS,  M.D.,  S.  W.  Corner  Broad  and  Green. 

F.  H.  GETCHELL,  M.D.,  No.  1432  Spruce  Street. 

ANTHONY  E.  STOCKER,  M.D.,  No.  202  E.  Chelton  Av.,  Gertn’n. 
THOMAS  S.  REED,  M.D.,  No.  1601  Chestnut  Street. 

A.  L.  ELWYN,  M.D.,  No.  1422  Walnut  Street. 

GEO.  I.  McLEOD,  M.D.,  No.  3905  Spruce  Street. 

LEWIS  D.  HARLOW,  M.D.,  No.  1519  Arch  Street. 

W.  H.  HOOPER,  M.D.,  No.  112  S.  Thirteenth  Street. 

J.  EWING  MEARS,  M.D.,  No.  1429  Walnut  Street. 

W.  H.  WEBB,  M.D.,  No.  633  N.  Sixteenth  Street. 

RICHARD  A.  CLEEMAN,  M.D.,  No.  340  S.  Twenty-first  Street. 
EDWD.  WALLACE,  M.D.,  No.  3943  Chestnut  Street. 

C.  S.  BOKER,  M.D.,  No.  1622  Chestnut  Street. 

ROBERT  BOLLING,  M.D.,  Chestnut  Hill. 

ROBERT  P.  HARRIS,  M.D.,  No.  713  Locust  Street. 

ALFRED  WHELEN,  M.D.,  No.  1814  S.  Rittenhouse  Square. 

W.  C.  SWANN,  M.D.,  No.  1512  Walnut  Street. 

C.  McCLELLAN,  M.D.,  No.  300  S.  Eleventh  Street. 

EDWD.  L.  PARKS,  M.D.,  No.  1323  Pine  Street. 

H.  EARNEST  GOODMAN,  M.D.,  No.  1427  Chestnut  Street. 
WILLIAM  H.  TAGGART,  M.D.,  No.  1931  Spruce  Street. 

J.  M.  BOISNOT,  M.D.,  No.  1308  N.  Sixth  Street. 

WM.  CAMAC,  M.D.,  Roxbury. 

JAMES  F.  WILSON,  M.D.,  No.  826  Arch  Street. 

R.  M.  GIRVIN,  M.D.,  No.  3924  Walnut  Street. 

HARRISON  ALLEN,  M.D.,  No.  117  S.  Twentieth  Street. 
CONSTANTINE  HERING,  M.D.,  No.  112  N.  Twelfth  Street. 
JOHN  M.  ADLER,  M.D.,  No.  1028  Arch  Street. 

JOSEPH  LEIDY,  M.D.,  No.  1302  Filbert  Street. 


